ESSENTIALS

DOES A BEAUTIFUL YARD HELP SELL YOUR HOUSE?

Submitted by Laura Kimball, Realtor - Coldwell Banker Resort Realty

Ahealthy, green lawn and tidy landscaping does more than just beautify your home; it also adds value! Like a new coat of paint, a well-tended lawn boosts curb appeal and helps potential buyers fall in love with your home at first sight.

According to the National Association of Realtors Remodeling Impact Report, curb appeal is important to 98 percent of buyers when choosing their home. The study shows that a landscape upgrade returns 100 percent of the investment, whereas a kitchen remodel would recoup only 67 percent.

Some things to consider when planning landscaping:

Keep it Simple - Choose low maintenance plants and avoid excessive landscaping. Too much going on can turn people away who feel like the maintenance would be too much work. Remove overgrown trees and shrubs to give the yard a cleaner appearance and make the home appear larger.

Maintenance - Trim hedges, trees and shrubs and keep the grass mowed. Replace old mulch and weed any gardens. You want the potential buyers to be impressed with how well you keep your yard so they know you’ve taken good care of the rest of your home.

Accessorize - Drawing attention to the front door makes the home inviting. Adding color with a beautiful pot of flowers on the porch, a wreath on the door or a flag will make your home pop and more visually appealing. Also be sure to remove any trash cans, political signs, toys and excessive yard decoration.

With spring just around the corner, here are some spring lawn care tips, according to Better-Lawn-Care.com::

• Don’t start working in your lawn until the soil has dried out.

• Sharpen your lawn mower blades and change the oil.

• Have your soil tested if it has been more than three years.

• Mow low to remove the dead gras tops.

• Aerate your lawn if it wasn’t done in the fall.

• Overseed bare spots.

• Apply crabgrass preventer around Easter.

• Apply light nitrogen fertilizer around Memorial Day.

• Wait to water your lawn until late spring/ early summer.

A home with a beautiful lawn and curb appeal could very well be the difference between a sale and a price reduction

Ready to sell? Looking to buy? CALL ME TODAY!

A lifetime resident of Boundary County and North Idaho, let my knowledge of this area work for you!

208.610.9354 laura.kimball@coldwellbanker.com 202 S. 1st Ave. Sandpoint, ID 83864